Cruises for 24-Hour Party People

Think relaxation is overrated? Is burning the candle at both ends the norm? Life aboard these three ships will keep you busy round the clock

Carnival Freedom

Line: Carnival Cruise Line

Passengers: 2,974

Itineraries: Caribbean, Europe, Transatlantic

Poolside band? Check. Nightly
parties on the Lido Deck? Check. Launched in 2007, the Freedom might not win accolades for haute culture, but it keeps passengers happy with plenty of festivities. The daytime Crazy Olympic Pool Party (complete with a water-balloon toss) parlays into Karaoke Madness, adult comedy shows, and a risqué version of The Newlywed Game after the sun goes down.
A whopping 22 bars and lounges cater to a variety of tastes, from easy listening to seventies disco, and keep the beat going right up until breakfastwhen you can fuel up before starting all over again. A new feature, the 270-
square-foot poolside LCD screen, shows concerts and sporting events during the day, then switches to popular movies at night.
Popcorn is just a dollar a bag (888-
227-6482; carnival.com; 12-day
European cruise from $1,399).

Crystal Serenity

Line: Crystal Cruises

Passengers: 1,080

Itineraries: Worldwide

If you insist on luxury, the Serenity is the best option for nightlife. Note, though, that night owls will be more satisfied on an itinerary with many days at sea; passengers tend to bed down soon after dinner when the ship is docking early the next morning. Start with a Broadway-style performance in the Galaxy Lounge by entertainers like Lorna Luft and Tommy Tune. Proceed from there to the nearby casino, for blackjack, baccarat, or craps, the most lively tables on the gaming floor. Non-gamblers might instead head to the Avenue Saloon, where white-gloved, tuxedo-tailed waiters circulate with finger foods while you catch a late-night jazz gig or piano jam. Thanks to the Crystal Society's multi-cruise benefits, more than half of all guests are repeat customers (rising to 70 percent on the World Cruise), so expect a familial, welcoming atmosphere among a sophisticated clientele. Just be careful not to overdo it during the day; the Serenity's packed schedule could make even a multitasker swoon, with ballroom dancing and Pilates classes, lectures by notables like author Bill Bryson and a Cornell University sleep expert, and Viennese-themed afternoon tea accompanied by a string ensemble at the Palm Court (888-722-0021; crystalcruises.com; 12-day Black Sea Odyssey from $5,700).

EasyCruise Life

Line: EasyCruise.com

Passengers: 600

Itineraries: Greece, Turkey

Want to party on land until the wee hours and still wake up in a different place each day? You can, on the recently refurbished easyCruise Life. This sleekly designed, no-frills ship caters to independent travelers who don't require the sort of hand-holding and abundance of onboard activities available on most vessels. The ship pulls into each port by lunchtime and doesn't set sail until early the next morning, so day- and night-trippers can explore historic Athens and go club-hopping in Mykonos and Paros. When it's time to return to the ship, late-night DJs keep the party going. After an all-nighter, the treatments and yoga classes at the Aptiva Spa are restorative, and location-specific programs such as Greek cooking classes offer passengers the chance to leave the ship with a new skill rather than just a hangover. Fares are shockingly low but include only your cabin and port taxes; meals, drinks, land transfers, etc., are extra, so budget accordingly (30-211-
211-6211; easycruise.com; seven-night Aegean Islands and Turkey trip from $450, room only).